If you are a sports fan and follow ESPN on Instagram or TikTok and come across the small clips of the mini-microphone interviews or scrolled on TikTok and saw the viral Savannah Bananas dancing Umpire eating some nachos a fan offered him while on the field and wondered who captured this fun moment? Biola’s Cinema Media Arts Alumni Kelly Kobayashi added the creative Gen-Z touch to ESPN behind the camera.
Kobayashi graduated from Biola University in 2022 with a degree in cinema and media art. Now, she is part of ESPN’s social production crew.
From running track to being behind the camera, Kelly Kobayashi has always loved sports.
“I grew up with sports and watching ESPN. I played sports my whole life,” Kobayashi said. “I always loved capturing the sports games.”
THE START OF THE DREAM
Kobayashi chose Biola for the Christian community.
“I felt like I was supposed to be [at Biola]…” Kobayashi stated. “Being on a Christian campus and having Christian friends for life was my top priority.”
Kobayashi ran track at Biola in the 2019-20 season, she and a teammate would interview their fellow athletes. One day, she got an email from Neil Morgan, Biola’s associate athletic director of communications and event operations. Morgan saw the potential in Kobayashi’s short interviews and offered her a position as a student worker for Biola Athletics as their first videographer.
Kobayashi believes Morgan was the start of her success.
“Neil’s probably the reason why I’m here,” Kobayashi stated. “[He gave] me those opportunities, trusting me, just letting me go out and record every single sport.”
Working with Biola Athletics is where Kobayashi’s passion for sports videography and production grew.
“I chose sports because there’s always something exciting happening,” Kobayashi stated.
EMPOWERING WOMEN IN SPORTS
Women in the sports industry are often underrepresented and underappreciated. Kobayashi embraces the challenge and evolution of the game. She is a role model for women in sports. Her dedication to her work will inspire the next generation of female workers. She is helping pave the way for inclusivity and recognition by being brave and challenging the stereotypes.
“The biggest misconception is that men don’t think women know enough about sports to be talking about it,” Kobayashi said. “They think that women aren’t good enough and say, ‘Women don’t belong in sports.’ But we truly do, and we are changing history right now.”
Misconceptions and stereotypes have dominated this industry for generations, but women are entering it, impacting many lives, and revolutionizing the game.
“For women who feel discouraged, you just have to keep going,” Kobayashi stated. “Just know that God put that desire in your dream for a reason … so just don’t give up and keep pushing.”
Kobayashi was hired at ESPN three months after she graduated in 2022 at 22 years old, becoming a positive role model for women interested in the industry.
“It’s just cool to break the barrier and prove people wrong at the end of the day,” Kobayashi stated.
ESPN has been Kobayashi’s dream for six years, and she views her achievement as not just a personal victory but for women everywhere to help break the barrier that women do belong in this industry.
KEEP GOING
Kobayashi fulfilled her dream of working for ESPN, but she believes God is teaching her patience and to lean on him.
“Was this my dream, or was this God’s?” she asked. “Was this my will, or was it his will? He put the dream of ESPN in my heart and got me there.”
Before landing her position, she faced multiple rejections from ESPN. However, she interprets these setbacks as redirections from God. When she was finally offered the position, she did not have to lift a finger. After years of applying, someone from an agency that was hiring for an ESPN contracting job contacted her through LinkedIn.
Kobayashi remains faithful to what the Lord has in store for her. She has always been goal-oriented and strives for success. While she was at Biola, she maxed out her internship hours and took every opportunity, even during the pandemic, to gain experience. Kobayashi refers to her hard work as “the L.A. hustle.”
“That’s the only way that you can make it out in this industry is if you’re constantly on the go..” Kobayashi said.
The sports industry is tough to break into and not for the weak.
“It’s been hard, but I remain faithful and trust in God,” Kobayashi stated. “If God puts a dream in your heart, he will make sure you get there. So I got here, but now, [I am] really trying to trust God … I try to be as positive as possible and be a shining light.”
Kobayashi’s story exemplifies the strength and resilience of women in sports, showcasing that with faith and perseverance, dreams can come true.
